Crime on Tennessee Campuses Goes Down

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — Crime on Tennessee's college campuses has dropped slightly, but a new report by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows the number of assaults increased at the state's institutions of higher learning.

The TBI report shows that crime on campus decreased overall by about four percent between 2011 and 2012, but assaults increased by nearly 14 percent over the same period.

Here in the mid-state, Fisk University had the highest assault rate, averaging nearly 2 assaults for every 100 students. Vanderbilt University had the highest rate of sexual offenses.

Middle Tennessee State saw aggravated assaults jump from five incidents to eight in 2012. On the plus side, sexual offenses and thefts of all types were down at MTSU.

The yearly “Crime on Campus” report is mandated by the federal College and University Security Information Act of 1989. The full report can be found on the TBI website at tbi.state.tn.us.